Title: Octavius Hadfield

Author: Barbara Macmorran

Publication details: 1969, Wellington

Digital publication kindly authorised by: G. H. Macmorran

Part of: New Zealand Texts Collection

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Octavius Hadfield

[extract from letter written by Octavius Hadfield]

The Horowhenua Report, or the out-line of the Counsel's report, given in the newspapers, throws light on those wonderful Land Courts that you have always heard me denounce. The principle laid down—which I have always maintained—ought to have prevented all the worthless claims put forth by persons who were slaves at the time the Treaty of Waitangi was made. There is not a word of truth in the statement that the Muaupoko were not conquered but retreated to the mountains; they were all made slaves; or fell back on the Whanganui where they were practically slaves. Another mistake is constantly made. Neither a man nor a woman could be a member of two tribes. This was an undisputed fact. For instance Kemp's father, a Muaupoko, lived with his wife, a Whanganui, at Whanganui: he therefore was domiciled there, and lost all rights he might have had at Horowhenua. It is the principle accepted by all nations that a man cannot be a citizen in two countries. In time of war, say, between the two tribes, Kemp's father would have been killed by Muaupoko.